Stephen Walker

Can you tell us about your educational and work experience background before you enrolled in this program? 

I was the director of data & analytics for a small insurance adjusting company. I design and maintain our SQL database and front-end reports in Excel and Power BI. 

What initially drew you to this program? 

I liked that the program was self-paced and admissions were simply based on performance in the first few classes. 

Can you tell us how the MS-DS program fits into your life? 

I was able to complete the program by just putting a couple hours in a day, typically during the weekdays, which was very convenient. 

What are your favorite parts of the program? 

I liked the interactive SQL database and Python/R notebooks that allowed us to play around with the data first. 

What do you hope to do with your MS-DS degree? 

I hope to add an AI component to our data department to help predict our clients' volume of claims and losses prior to a storm. 

Would you recommend this program to others? Why or why not? 

Yes. I believe it is a well-balanced program where you will get out of it what you put into it. It allows for you to take the time to learn the material before moving on. 

What do you wish you’d known before starting the MS-DS? 

I wish I had known I could complete the core coursework before enrolling in a class. 

What’s one tip you have for students who are starting this program? 

I would recommend getting some work experience prior to starting a master's so that you know what subjects you want to learn. 

Is there a specific project you have worked on that stands out to you? 

I enjoyed projects that allowed us to choose the topic and create a report with a breakdown using text summaries and visuals. 

Is there anything else you would like to add? 

I wanted to thank the course facilitators for designing a flexible program where working professionals, such as myself, can complete a degree.